the iphone revolution

Wow it is hard to write something everyday! I am shooting for a few times a week.

A product I know I want is the Iphone... although I hate the thought of having to have a certain provider for the service- yikes, and the cost, but it is so sleek and cool.

I can see how that is the wave- all connections with people from now on will be that touch screen and the Iphone being the first is the standard. All things, the computer, the TV, the internet, and of course the phone are all wrapped up in one device- you can carry in your pocket... It will be what everyone has... and we will lose so much of the cumbersome stuff - the computers and gadgets that you need to run various things, will all eventually go away. I don't see it replacing TV- although I do see people using the tv function on the iphone all the time- it is still a singular experience, and people like to watch things in groups.. so the "family" will want a tv.

But the personal computer might eventually go- if you can carry it all in your pocket and the data is stored in a cloud somewhere, why have something bigger? Although, I would want a keyboard to type term papers, reports, etc., but why not a wireless connection to any keyboard? With airport tech to wirelessly send a document to a printer- there could be keyboards and printing terminals at cafes that you just stop in and print something on the road...people do that now at airports, hotels, etc. why not everywhere- libraries should offer this, maybe they already do...

Anyway, 1 place to keep everything is very appealing- especially since we have gotten so loaded down with phones, and calculators, and laptop computers, and all the peripherals that go with that stuff...

Obviously this is not new, but I see it morphing into a whole new way of communicating , reaching out to everyone instantly with one tiny device. The one HUGE issue is security for the info- but again, this isn't new and I know they are working on it...

losing

wow- life is hard- and a high school basketball game exemplifies the whole gamut of hard... the whole town shows up, everyone is happy and cheering and then you lose- and the whole town has to deal with the loss-

but wait, that is the answer-

the whole town carries the burden so it is lighter on you- the fire truck still shows up to escort you back into town- because no matter what, you are heroes,- you made it where few get to go- you challenged yourself- you played your hearts out.

the people who saw you lose also saw how hard you tried, how close you came, how it could have gone either way-

and you see they were proud of you no matter what. and that is the lesson. Try your hardest, put yourself out there because it is important for everyone. AND if you win- great, but if you lose you are still wonderful because you showed up and tried.

Digital photography

I have a very techno savy husband, but I am a photography major from "back in the day"- so to me a camera has to feel like a camera, have lenses you can change and not fit in your pocket... so when we started having kids I gave up using my trusty Canon F-1- not enough hands at that point- and let my husband become the shooter- with his new fangled gadget camera, which kept getting smaller and smaller.
I appreciated the digital change- no cost to the bad shots, and even thought the quality of the lenses were good, but the pocket size, and the tons of menus you could scroll through to get some effect, was just too much. So I just operated them in the point and shoot mode, and was completely unsatisfied creatively.

However, this past Christmas we got a digital SLR Canon camera- the EOS and it has made me want to shoot photos again! It is great- you still don't have to worry about the bad shots- and you can do all kinds of effects , but you can use it like my old F-1- setting the shutter , or the aperture, being in control: and the photos are fabulous!

So, I am exploring the world behind the camera again- and it is really a freeing experience. I think the little pocket digital camera will continue to sell, but the Canon EOS digital camera is so fabulous- I bet this is or will be, the number one camera in the world soon.

Everyone can Change- NOW

The current depression- which is what this is, is a huge opportunity for change... We are fortunate to finally have a smart guy in the white house to help steer the blundering corporations through- and blunder they will continue to do, because they are very slow to change. But, we, the people can change quickly. We can change in a snap and we have already and will continue to.

•People habit changes:
•No more stupid buying just to shop... wouldn't that be nice!
I never completely understood that idea, "Lets go shopping" as a recreation- no, you shop when you need something. I do think the American people will get that-it is starting already. Some are addicted to shopping and will have a tough time, but most will be able to just shop when in need. How refreshing.

•Reusing stuff- like clothes- at thrift shops-spend $3 for an American Eagle skirt instead of $40- the addicts can go to the thrift shops!
When my Husband and I went to Hawaii a few years ago- our first stop was a thrift shop which, of course, had tons of Hawaiian shirts- we bought about a doz. and wore them the whole time- they are great and each cost about $2... many were the expensive ones in the boutiques down the street... So, when on a trip to someplace unique- shop their thrift stores...

•Reuse your water bottle- hello? we don't need more plastic in the landfills AND water should be free- buy a sturdy (they are getting harder to find- some are so thin I'm afraid they will gush out all over the place- the Chinese markets have a green heavy duty bottle tea comes in- buy one, drink the tea and rinse- they don't keep the flavor of the tea in the plastic- yeah- how come?) Anyway, fill it up over and over again... I have one I use in my gym bag- it is still fine after several months...! this is a win-win- less money spent, less junk.

• When you have to shop go to BJ's, Cosco- get it in bulk- things like cereal is sooooo much cheaper! I know these places are popular- but they should be packed all the time- you will save time and money.

• I have always been drawn to classic styling- don't buy trendy clothes- buy classic designs they never go out of style- really-

•fix what is broken- When I was a kid there was a vacuum repair shop, a bike repair shop and small appliance repairs all in one little town- All of them are gone because most of what is made today isn't fixable- plastic breaks- wears down and it can't be fixed, computer components fail and that is it... But, if you do have something that is broken that is fixable- either try yourself, what harm can you do, it already is broken! - or find someone who will fix it... pay them- they are part of the change and the solution ...

Success- Watch a TED a day...

I think everyone should watch a TED video every day- it will open your eyes, and brain in ways that will surprise you. This one is very brief about how to succeed- post it everywhere and look at it often- you can follow it and find your way to success.

Free Range Veggie thoughts

Day Two of my blog

I have doubled my followers- I was the first, Raph is the second- Whoopee! I am unclear if I can do this without having it rule my life- Facebook has become an addiction- Now this might translate into another time waster... hope not!

I am really here to run the experiment I mentioned- post things that I find compelling, good products, neat ideas, etc. and see if the rest of America joins in thereafter...

I have noticed a sense of hope the past 24 hours- much less doom and gloom- I do not watch the news so it is not coming from there- just general vibes seem more positive- wonder if that is based on anything...

We, as a family, tend to buy organic as often as possible- unless it is outrageously more then the "regular" stuff- but our joining a local food co-op farm didn't really work out- I didn't like Brussels sprouts and Kale and they produced a lot of that, and the drive was a ridiculous 1 hour away- 2 hours round trip- but that was not their fault... I felt good doing this, but the inconvenience was too much... especially since there was so much that I really didn't like, again not their fault- although I like most veggies-

I do think there will be a trend towards buying MUCH more local produce-directly from the farmer- farmers markets are already strong- but usually only on Saturdays...I think these will expand, and you'll see small markets carrying more local organic stuff- this focus will help the local farmers grow more variety by demanding local products.

For example: There is a small independent mom and pop grocery around the corner from where I live that sells bread, meats, chips, etc. and he offers free range eggs, some produce (that I don't think is local) and products like maple syrup,

OH! and glass milk bottles that you return the next time you come in... THIS is a great trend- LOVE IT! THINK WE WILL SEE MORE OF THIS... And more small shops specializing in the local stuff... everywhere.

That's all for now!

What does being middle America mean?

I am in my mid fifties and live in a small upstate NY town. I have found over the years that the things I like, America soon likes: things I don't care for, seem to fall out of favor. If I discover a new product, suddenly I see it everywhere and everyone is talking about it. Usually this process takes about 2 weeks to a month from when I find something really cool.

For instance, I decided to dig a pond ( small) in my backyard... I spent a summer digging and getting the liner, and filling it and lining the edges with found rocks, etc. I added a waterfall and purchased the pump at the only place I could find with the pond supplies... Within a year all gardening magazines, books, etc,. had how to's on back yard ponds...
Another example: when Nokia first came out with their cell phone I fell in love with it and soon it was the most popular phone out there... I didn't even own one, just appreciated it.

I know this sounds absurd, but I have seen it happen so many times that I am now used to it and kind of expect this to happen. I have lately noticed, that it is even more connected then that. I have noticed that when I'm happy and feeling good, the US seems to respond with an upturn in the Dow, and good news about something, and when I am not feeling uplifted, or if I feel worried or depressed, I find the economy is tanking and all hell is breaking loose everywhere. Now given the current economy that could just be a coincidence, but maybe not.

What if, I AM Middle America? What if I truly do represent, to the core, the feelings, the moods, etc. of the US and so that what I feel is what happens? !!!

Kind of a big responsibility, and very scary.

So, I have decided to write a blog to post my thoughts- they will be random and it will be interesting to see what comes out.

So, to start, I usually can spot a new product or improvement to a product that I find is really good, and then everyone else discovers it. I have to admit I haven't really been shopping lately- like I did very little Christmas shopping, and I guess no one else did either, so anyway, I haven't seen anything really great out there to report on.

One change in my life was I got an email from the local animal shelter that they had lots of animals, and although we already had 2 cats and a dog, I thought we could take another dog to help out... We got Samantha on the day after Christmas, and when we were there, lots of people came in to get dogs and cats, so I'm hoping that that was a nationwide trend...

So anyway, as I see new things- or as I do new things, I will post them here and see if they become a trend...